Farmer’s market coming to Maryville

Event to take place every Thursday near village library

John Sommerhof • jsommerhof@edwpub.net

Published
9:11 am CDT, Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Maryville residents will soon have a local place to purchase
fresh and locally grown and raised food. The Maryville
Farmer’s Market will be held near the Water Shed behind the
Maryville Public Library on Schiber Court. The market will run from 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., on Thursdays, beginning on May
3 and running through Oct. 11. less

Maryville residents will soon have a local place to purchase
fresh and locally grown and raised food. The Maryville
Farmer’s Market will be held near the Water Shed behind the
Maryville Public Library on ... more

Photo: John Sommerhof • Jsommerhof@edwpub.net

Photo: John Sommerhof • Jsommerhof@edwpub.net

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Maryville residents will soon have a local place to purchase
fresh and locally grown and raised food. The Maryville
Farmer’s Market will be held near the Water Shed behind the
Maryville Public Library on Schiber Court. The market will run from 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., on Thursdays, beginning on May
3 and running through Oct. 11. less

Maryville residents will soon have a local place to purchase
fresh and locally grown and raised food. The Maryville
Farmer’s Market will be held near the Water Shed behind the
Maryville Public Library on ... more

Photo: John Sommerhof • Jsommerhof@edwpub.net

Farmer’s market coming to Maryville

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MARYVILLE — Residents of Maryville will soon have the opportunity to buy fresh produce and other food without leaving the village.

At the last regular meeting of the full Village Board, trustees approved a motion to allow a farmer's market to be held on village-owned property. The market, organized by the Maryville Farmer's Market group, will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 4, and run until Oct. 11.

The location of the market will be in the parking lot behind the Maryville Library near the Water Maintenance Shed off Schiber Court.

Anne Matthews, president of the Maryville Farmer's Market organization, said many of the vendors from the Goshen Market in Edwardsville have committed to sell their goods in Maryville during the Thursday night market.

"We have 15 vendors committed for the whole season and another 10 who will be here on certain dates," Matthews said. "The goal is to have 80 precent agricultural products and 20 percent of other products that are locally sourced and sustainably created."

Maryville Mayor Craig Short, who said he was excited about the project, said the market will benefit all Maryville residents.

"Anne has contacted the Maryville Food Pantry and will be working with them to provide produce to food pantry customers," Short said.

Matthews said vouchers will be given to the Food Pantry for them to hand out to clients. She added that residents will be able to purchase fresh food through various government programs such as WIC EBT. Because there is no grocery store in Maryville, Matthews said the USDA has designated Maryville a "food desert."

"Because people don't have access to fresh produce and meat within the village and there is no grocery store, the market will qualify to receive grants for its operation," she said. "This is also why recipients of WIC EBT will be able to purchase food at the market because the only other option to purchase food is from convenient stores."

While the board was in overwhelming support of the Farmer's Market, some did voice concerns about parking and insurance issues.

Short said he had walked the property and believes there is ample parking for the once-a-week market.

"The concerns I had were in regard to making sure we keep the library parking spaces open because the library will still be open," Short said. "But after walking the property, we determined there will be plenty of parking."

Because of the market's location next to Drost Park and the bike trail, Short said people can utilize parking in the park or access the market from the bike trail.

In regards to the insurance and liability issue, Matthews said the Maryville Farmer's Market organization has already purchased a general liability and product liability insurance policy. Trustee Mike Vallino asked if by granting a non-profit access to sell food on city property, it would hurt other local businesses.

Village Attorney Ron Motil said after discussing issues with the City of Edwardsville, he feels there will be no problems.

"I discussed this topic with officials from Edwardsville and they said they have never had an issue with businesses complaining," Motil said. "It brings people to the community and the benefits far out weigh those types of issues."

Board members unanimously approved the motion to allow the Maryville Farmer's Market to use village property.